SDJW staff report
Washington Post photographer Heidi Levine was beaten Friday by masked Israeli settlers who burned the olive groves in Abu Falah and violently set upon Palestinian residents. Levine, who was wearing press credentials, had to be hospitalized in Ramallah.
Mickey Gitzin, the acting CEO of the New Israel Fund, said: “We’re supporting protective presence activists who physically put themselves in between Palestinian communities and the settlers trying to force them off their land. We’re providing legal support for Palestinian victims and doing media outreach to ensure that people know the truth—directly leading to coverage that’s pressuring the government to take action.”
CNN reported that Levine and several European diplomats accompanied Palestinian farmers as they began their annual olive harvest Friday. The next day, Shabbat, settlers attacked the diplomats visiting Taybeh, a Palestinian Christian town.
After the U.S, complained, the Israeli military and security forces fanned out and arrested 10 suspects. Moshe Pinchi, Israel Police Superintendent, stated, “We are working to collect evidence, findings and testimonies and to consolidate an evidentiary infrastructure that will enable bringing those involved to justice.”
U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee described the arrests as a “very positive development in finding & punishing those who severely attacked and beat Heidi Levine.”
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